Audi has lifted the veil on its all-new 2017 A4 sedan and Avant at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Now riding on Audi’s MLB Evo platform, which first debuted beneath the 2017 Q7 SUV, the A4′s overall length has nudged up slightly, growing from 15.4 feet to 15.5 feet. Wheelbase is also up a hair to 9.3 feet. Despite that added length, the 2017 A4 is up to 264 pound lighter than the model currently in showrooms, thanks to the extensive use of high-strength steel and aluminum in its construction.
In Europe the A4 will be available with seven different engines — three gas burners and four diesels. Here in the United States expect fewer options, with Audi’s 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder gas motor set to be the most popular. A 2.0 TDI diesel is also expected to make an appearance. Audi says that model is capable of hitting 63.6 U.S. mpg.
Further down the road the A4 is expected to be offered with a supercharged 3.0L V6 in S4 guise. A plug-in hybrid model is also in the works.
Transmission options will include a six-speed manual, seven-speed S ironic dual clutch and an eight-speed tiptronic unit. The 2017 A4 will ship with standard front-wheel drive, but Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system will be available as an optional extra.
Inside the A4 receives a more luxurious interior that is also more spacious than the model it replaces. Front-seat shoulder and head room are up by 0.4 inches and 0.9 inches, respectively, while rear-seat legroom has grown by almost an inch.
In addition to more room, passengers will also enjoy a higher level of technology in the 2017 A4. An optional Audi virtual cockpit replaces the A4′s standard gauge cluster with a high-resolution 12.3 inch LCD screen that provides information for everything from vehicle speed to navigation. Audi virtual cockpit is complimented by a dash-mounted 8.3-inch screen.
Audi connect is also aboard the 2017 A4, providing a high-speed LTE Internet connection. The LTE system not only provides a wireless hotspot for up to eight devices, but also keeps the driver connected to their A4 via Audi’s MMI connect smartphone app.
On the safety and convenience front, the new A4 will be available with Stop&Go adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, active lane assist and rear cross-traffic assist. The 2017 A4 will also boast a new predictive efficiency assistant feature that promises to lowers fuel consumption.
The 2017 Audi A4 will go on sale during the first half of 2016. The A4 sedan will reach our shores, but the Avant wagon isn’t slated to hit U.S. dealerships. A higher-riding A4 allroad, however, could eventually be sold here.
Pricing will be announced closer to the car’s 2016 market launch.
Live images by Ronan Glon.
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